TCM I: Naturopathic study and TCM

Question 1

Learning Outcomes:

Answer 1

• Have an understanding of Yin / Yang theory, the vital substances and the organs of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
• Be able to recognize the basic patterns of disease in terms of TCM theory
• Be able to collect diagnostically relevant information from a patient
• Be able to formulate a TCM diagnosis and offer appropriate naturopathic, dietary and lifestyle advice

Question 2

TCM and naturopathy similarities

Answer 2

Traditional Chinese medicine and naturopathy similarities:
* The healing power of nature
* Prevention is preferable to cure
* All disease starts with a disruption to the bodies homoeostatic mechanisms and health is a return to the balance of these mechanisms
* Ill-health is a product of the environment rather than any single, isolated entity
* The person is to be treated, not the disease
* Health is much greater than just ‘absence of infirmity’
* Ailments should not be suppressed
* The whole person is treated (physically and mentally)
* The individual is unique, each person responds in different way
* Treat deficiency and excess
* The root (underlying) cause of dysfunction needs to be identified and treated, not the branches (symptoms)
* In addition to treating patients, a naturopath should act as an educator

Question 3

Integration

Answer 3

Because the principles of naturopathy and TCM are aligned, there is the potential for integration.

Even if you do not go on to study TCM in greater depth, you can draw on the fundamental good sense of the TCM perspective to enhance your natural pathic practice